Canon
Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8
Prime/Zoom
84
/ 100
From $649
VS
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM wins by 12
Canon
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Full-frame · 950 g · Pro portrait
96
/ 100
From $2,299
Specdex verdict
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 lands at 84 and Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM at 96. That puts Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM ahead by 12 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 if…
- ✓Fast aperture
- ✓Quiet autofocus
- ✓Weather-sealed (most)
Pick Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM if…
- ✓Breathtaking bokeh
- ✓Sharp wide open
- ✓Weather-sealed L build
Score breakdown
Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8
84 sharpness 84
af 82
build 88
value 85
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
96 sharpness 98
af 94
build 98
value 82
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Mount
—
Canon RF
Aperture
—
f/1.2
Weight
—
950 g
Filter size
—
77 mm
Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8
Pros
- +Fast aperture
- +Quiet autofocus
- +Weather-sealed (most)
Cons
- −Mount-specific
- −Weight varies
- −Price scales with quality
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Pros
- +Breathtaking bokeh
- +Sharp wide open
- +Weather-sealed L build
Cons
- −Heavy at 950 g
- −Expensive
- −Breathing present
FAQ: Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 vs Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Which is better, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 or Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM? +
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 12. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 worth the price? +
At $649, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in build.
Is Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM worth the price? +
At $2,299, Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in sharpness.
Does Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 or Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.